SEA DOGS SELECT SAFIN, SALDA IN CHL IMPORT DRAFT

SAINT JOHN – The Saint John Sea Dogs are proud to announce the additions of right-winger Ostap Safin and defenceman Radim Salda in today’s Canadian Hockey League Import Draft.

Safin, 18, was selected in the first round, 53rd overall.

The native of Prague, Czech Republic, spent most of last season with the HC Sparta Praha Under-20 club where he posted six goals and 18 points in 24 games. He added a goal and an assist in eight games for HC Sparta Praha in the Czech Extraliga, the Czech Republic’s top men’s professional league. He also totaled one goal and four points in five games for his home country at the 2017 Under-18 World Championships in Slovakia.

Listed at 6’5″ and 191 lbs., he was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fourth round, 115th overall, of the 2017 NHL Draft last weekend.

“Safin is an impressive 6-foot-5 offensive winger that handles the puck well and skates well for his size,” said Sea Dogs President and General Manager Trevor Georgie. “He has good offensive instincts and with his frame, he will create room for his teammates. He has a high ceiling that we really like. He gives Danny (Coach Flynn) and the coaching staff another weapon up front.”

Salda, also 18, came to Saint John in the second round of the Import Draft, 113th overall.

The product of Pardubice, Czech Republic, played the majority of last season with the HC Hradec Kralove Under-20 team, registering seven goals and 15 points in 35 games. He chipped in with one assist in five games as a teammate of Safin with the Czech Republic at the 2017 Under-18 World Championships.

“Salda is a well-rounded left defenceman,” Georgie began. “He has good mobility and poise with the puck and will have an opportunity to be a top-four blueliner for us next season.”

Georgie continued: “We put a lot of work into the Import Draft this season and are very pleased with the result. We were able to select two players that fill very important needs for our team and that our fans in Saint John will enjoy. Ostap and Radim know each other and have played together. They both look forward to playing together again this upcoming season in Saint John. We are pleased to have them as part of the Sea Dogs family and Saint John community.”

Import defencemen Jakub Zboril (NHL first-round draft pick) and Oliver Felixson (illness) have been placed on a special protected list with the Sea Dogs holding their CHL rights.

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